Adventure Time: HIKWYSOG teaser has Zelda 2 DNA

Expectations for WayForward and Pendleton Ward's upcoming game Adventure Time have been understandably high. Adventure Time often feels like a classic 2D game in animated form, and WayForward is all about taking the principals of classic 2D gaming (beautiful 2D pixel art, simple gameplay hooks fused with iconic characters) and bringing it to today's marketplace. Teaming the creator of the show with WayForward's philosophy almost feels too good to be true.

Judging from this teaser trailer, I think it's still a little too soon to say if those expectations will be met. The animation looks great, the characters look great, and Tree Trunks is looking really great. The gameplay isn't looking quite as hot. It's just a few seconds of combat, but none of it looks particularly interesting. Knowing that so many licensed games have boring combat has me a little worried.

It makes me feel better to remember that Zelda 2 is reportedly the biggest inspiration for Adventure Time: HIKWYSOG. If you look at a few random seconds of Zelda 2's combat, you wouldn't be able to see how fun the game can be. The high/low guessing games, the downthrust pogo-sticking, the bubble busting;all great stuff that isn't immediately apparent. Lets hope that Adventure Time: HIKWYSOG carries that brand of fun.

"Where do dreams end and reality begin? Videogames, I suppose."- Gainax, FLCL Vol. 1
"The beach, the trees, even the clouds in the sky... everything is build from little tiny pieces of stuff. Ju... more